Chinese Zodiac• 12 animal signs

Year of the Rat• 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960,

1972, 1984• usually smart and willing to

accumulate wealth and to make efforts to be successful

• Best match: dragon, monkey, ox; Avoid: sheep, horse, rabbit, rooster

Year of the Ox• 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973,

1985• probably honest, laborious, patient,

obstinate, and poor at communication

• Best match: rat, snake, rooster; Avoid: dragon, horse, sheep, dog, rabbit

Year of the Tiger• 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950,

1962, 1974, 1986• Usually tolerant, staunch,

valiant, and respected • Best match: horse, dog;

avoid: snake, monkey

Year of the Rabbit• 1915, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962,

1976, 1986• Usually gentle, sensitive, modest,

and merciful and have strong memory

• Best match: sheep, dog, pig; avoid: rat, ox, dragon, rooster, horse

Year of the Dragon• 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952,

1964, 1976, 1988• lively, energetic and fortunate • Best match: rat, monkey,

rooster; avoid: dog, ox, dragon, rabbit

Year of the Snake• 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965,

1977, 1989• often have a good temper, a skill

of communicating, and a gracious morality, but they are likely to be jealous and suspicious

• Best match: ox, rooster; avoid: tiger, monkey, pig

Year of the Horse• 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,

1966, 1978, 1990• active, clever, kind to others,

and like to join in a venture • Best match: tiger, sheep, dog;

Avoid: rat, ox, rabbit, horse

Year of the Sheep• 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955,

1967, 1979, 1991• tender, polite, filial, clever,

and kind-hearted • Best match: rabbit, horse,

pig; avoid: rat, ox, dog

Year of the Monkey• 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956,

1968, 1980, 1992• lively, flexible, and versatile • Best match: rat, dragon;

avoid: tiger, snake, pig

Year of the Rooster• 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969,

1981, 1993• honest, bright, communicative,

ambitious and warm-hearted • Best match: ox, dragon, snake;

avoid: rooster, dog, rabbit

Year of the Dog• 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958,

1970, 1982• faithful, courageous, dexterous,

smart and warm-hearted • Best match: tiger, rabbit, horse;

avoid: ox, dragon, sheep, rooster

Year of the Pig• 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947,

1959, 1971, 1983• honest and frank • Best match: sheep, rabbit;

avoid: snake, pig, monkey

• The first period is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., the time rats actively seek food;The second one is from 1 to 3 a.m., a time that oxen regurgitate;From 3 to 5 a.m. tigers hunt prey and display their fiercest nature;From 5 to 7 a.m., based on tales, the jade rabbit on the moon was busy pounding medicinal herb with a pestle;From 7 to 9 a.m. dragons were said to hover in the sky to give people rainfall;From 9 to 11 a.m. snakes start to leave their burrows;From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day is flourishing, as vigorous as an unconstrained horse;From 1 to 3 p.m. it was said that if sheep ate grass at this time, they would grow stronger;From 3 to 5 p.m. monkeys become lively;From 5 to 7 p.m. roosters return to their roost as it is dark;From 7 to 9 p.m. dogs begin to carry out their duty to guard entrances;From 9 to 11 p.m. all is quiet and pigs are sleeping soundly.

• I enjoyed learning more about the Chinese zodiac signs and what the different animals symbolize.